Meet our forward-thinking couple living in a cozy 3-bedroom semi-detached home with an attic conversion. Like many homeowners, they were eager to maximise their energy savings while minimising their carbon footprint. The installation of the Boxergy Hero 2 Heat Pump proved to be the perfect solution for their heating and space challenges, revolutionising their approach to home energy management.
Our couple owns a home, a 100 square meter (1076 square feet) space, already boasted solar PV panels and a battery, which they used alongside a smart tariff to save money on electricity. Despite these efforts, their initial heating setup relied on gas, which limited their potential savings. Realising they could further reduce costs and increase efficiency by electrifying their heating, Joy and Andrew began exploring their options.
Energy-Saving Journey
They were already saving significant amounts of money by generating their own electricity via their solar panels and lowering the average cost of the grid electricity they used by buying it at cheap times and storing it in their battery for later use. However, they knew they could save even more by increasing their electricity usage. Here’s what they considered:
• Adding more solar panels: After surveying their roof, they found they could add another 4 panels, totalling around 1.72kW. This addition could potentially generate an extra 1224kWh per year.
• Getting a bigger battery: They were keen on this option as it would significantly reduce their winter energy bills by providing more capacity to store electricity.
• Getting an EV: With their low annual mileage of 2000 miles, an electric vehicle would increase their home electricity consumption by about 500kWh per year.
• Electrifying their heat: By switching from gas to electric heating with a heat pump, they could increase their electricity consumption by around 3,225kWh per year, making it a substantial saving option.
Ultimately, Joy and Andrew decided to invest in a larger battery and electrify their heating with a heat pump to maximize their savings and efficiency.
Challenges Faced
The path to electrifying their heating was not without challenges:
• Limited space: There was no room for a cylinder on the ground floor, and converting the second bedroom would reduce it from a double to a single room, potentially impacting property value.
• Complex installation: Installing the heat pump required routing pipes from the heat pump to the cylinder cupboard via the gable end and loft, a process involving:
o A 7m run up the gable end, needing 14m of copper, 14m of Armaflex insulation, and 7m of 140mm conduit, using ladders or towers.
o A 9.5m pipe run through the loft, requiring 19m of 28mm copper, 14m of foil-backed insulation, and 5m of foam insulation.
o Finding a suitable route for the D2 discharge pipe, involving lifting floorboards and coring through to the outside wall.
• Increased costs: The potential need to increase the pipe diameter to 35mm, adding significantly to the cost and complexity of the job.
The Hero 2 Solution
The Hero 2 Heat Pump emerged as the ideal solution. Here’s why:
• Virtually the whole installation was contained in a Box which sat next to the Heat Pump
• Boxergy only connected this box to their internal pipework and the whole system worked great.
• When Boxergy removed their old gas boiler they realised they actually got back this cupboard so they fitted a heat pump and actually gained space!
• No floors were lifted, no long pipe runs were needed
Installation Process
Despite the challenges their home presented to a standard heat pump install, the Hero 2’s innovative design allowed for a smooth and efficient installation process:
• Initial assessment and planning: The team evaluated the best approach to minimise disruption and ensure optimal performance.
• Installation steps: The Hero 2 was installed with minimal disruption, addressing all the specific challenges of their home. The use of external installation for the cylinder saved valuable indoor space.
• Efficient process: The entire installation was completed by a team of two in just one day, significantly reducing labour costs and inconvenience.
Outcomes and Benefits
The installation of the Hero 2 Heat Pump brought immediate and long-term benefits:
• Space utilisation: The compact design freed up space inside the home, avoiding the need to convert the second bedroom.
• Enhanced efficiency: The Hero 2’s advanced technology ensured optimal heating performance, reducing energy bills.
• Customer satisfaction: Joy and Andrew were thrilled with the quick and efficient installation process and the system’s performance.
• Long-term savings: The combination of a larger battery and the Hero 2 Heat Pump maximised their energy savings, further reducing their carbon footprint.
Our friendly couple experience with the Hero 2 Heat Pump highlights the transformative impact of innovative home heating solutions. By overcoming space limitations and installation challenges, the Hero 2 provided them with an efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly heating system. Their journey demonstrates that with the right technology, homeowners can maximise space and savings without compromising on comfort.
